HUNTING TERMS 227 



Left-handed — Such hounds are called left-handed 

 which are not always right, but apt to be wide, 

 and fly without a scent. The sooner they are 

 drafted the better, although they frequently 

 have some excellent quaUties. 



LiTTEii, A — Young foxes, or the cubs belonging to 

 one fox, are called a litter. 



Lifting — AVhen hounds are scarcely able to hunt 

 a scent across bad scenting-ground, the hunts- 

 man is induced to take them off it, and hold 

 them forward ; where he is sure to hit off" the 

 scent — probably to a halloo. This is con- 

 demned by many good sportsmen, but by 

 others it is thought slow in a huntsman not 

 to do it. 



Lying — That part of a cover in which foxes are 

 generally found — probably coppice wood of 

 about two years' gTowth, or furze, etc. 



Laid Up — When a vixen fox has had cubs, she is 

 said to have laid up. 



INIain Earths — Large earths on which foxes gener- 

 ally breed, being difficult to get out. 



Metal — When hounds are very fresh, and fly for 

 a short distance on a wrong scent, or without 

 one, it is called " all metal. " 



Moving-Scent — When hounds get on a scent that 



